Melanoma survivor, Sarah Gahagan's story and her plea of support to lawmakers in Maine to raise the tanning bed access to 18 years of age.

Testimony in support of LD 1297

A bill to raise the access of tanning beds to 18 years old.

My name is Sarah Gahagan, and I am a Melanoma survivor.  This is one of the few times I have actually called myself that.  I tend to minimize my experience when I compare it to other cancer survivors.  I didn't go through rigorous chemo treatments or experience the sickness and other tell-tale signs of cancer.  But, like my doctor so bluntly expressed to me on our phone conversation regarding my diagnosis,"it IS cancer.  It can kill you."  

I was 30 years old and a new mom.  I went to my doctor for a regular check-up, and mentioned to her a mole on my leg that had been itching a lot and looked irregular.  She wasn't concerned but told me that she could have it removed and then I went along with my normal life.  I had a follow up scheduled but I also had a trip to Chicago planned and at the time, I felt my trip was more important.  Getting ready for this trip included a few trips to the tanning bed.  I had started using tanning beds when I was in my early teens.  The bronzed skin look that is equated with beauty in today's society is something that I also wanted.  It was almost impossible for my teenage brain to throw instant gratification to the wayside and actually think that my actions at 15 could have an impact on my life at 30, and honestly I didn't care.  So I carried on damaging my skin and putting myself at risk well into my 20's.  I even jumped in the tanning bed before my trip to Chicago, that's right, I tanned with stitches in  my leg from my recent biopsy.  It couldn't happen to me.  When I returned home from my trip, I called my doctor to rescedule my appointment.  When the receptionist answered the phone, she pulled up my file and said "Sarah, no one has been in contact with you yet?"  The way that her voice sounded made my stomach drop.  I was immediately put on the phone with my doctor who explained that I had skin cancer.  In my mind cancer meant that you just removed the area and went on with your life.  Then she started to talk to me about what Melanoma really is.  How quickly it can spread to the rest of your body.  And that 's when she said those words to me, "it is cancer.  It can kill you."  I was devastated.  Immediately I thought about my 2 year old, my husband, my family, my friends.  I was in surgery within the next week.  I had a large portion of my inner calf removed and have been left with a 6 inch scar.  I also required that several affected lymph nodes be removed all the way up to my groin.  The most damaging effect of this has been the mental and emotional scars of constant worry about any changes in my skin, spending too long in the sun at my son's sporting events, and the fact that I have a very high likelyhood of Melanoma recurrence in my lifetime. 

The bottom line is that we, as teenagers, do not have the capability, or desire, to delay our instant gratification.  Something is always more important in the moment.  I am aware that at this point parental permission is allowed for minors to utilize tanning beds.  I am also a social worker who has had 16 years of experience in working with our Maine families.  The unfortunate reality is that often times, parents aren't capable of, or simply do not make the right decisions for their children all the time.  Passing of LD 1297 will put further safe guards in place to prevent our children from increasing their incidence of Melanoma.  Because, like my doctor said, " it is CANCER, it can KILL you."  

-Sarah Gahagan, Bangor Maine